does it have to do with position? is this the same for baseball and other sports?

Yes there is in the Pro's.

QB's are 1-19.
RB's are 20-49.
WR's are 10-19 and 80-89.
OL are 60-79.
DB are 20-49.
LB are 50-59 and 70-79.
DL are 70-79 and 90-99.

K/P are 1-19

...These are Generally speaking....there aren't hard and fast rules but they pretty much stick to that. It varies a bit because players play different positions, sides of the ball, become eligible receivers, etc.

For example William Perry was #72 on defense but didn't have to change his number when he was put in as a running back.

no...i don't think so...

Yes, wide recievers usually wear in the 80s, while WR who try out for the team wear in the teens.
Cornerbacks are usually 20s
Defensive linemen are 90s
offensive linemen 60s etc.

Numbers relate to positions. For example 80s are recievers.

yeah... if you play on the line you have numbers 50-79 or 90-99 and the backs, db's, and such have everything else

YES..........EACH POSITION HAS A RANGE OF NUMBERS THAT THEY CAN CHOOSE FROM. IT TELLS YOU WHAT POSITION THAT THEY PLAY. SOME PEOPLE THINK THE NFL SHOULD DO AWAY WITH IT. IN COLLEGE YOU CAN HAVE ANY NUMBER AT ANY POSITION.

In professional football it does, other sports no (baseball, basketball, etc.)

RB - 20-39

QB - 1-19

Lineman have numbers but not sure of the range.

no there is no signifigance, but for some reason football has rules on who wears what number, no other sport does

I'm sure there is a wiki on this, but the numbers do indicate a position. There aren't exact numbers, but more like ranges. For instance, the 80's usually indicate a wide receiver, 20's and 30's running backs and tail backs, etc.

Today, I don't think the #s mean as much as some players play dual roles (offense and defense) and plays are much more creative (a running back going out for a pass)

It does have to do with their position on the team, but sometimes it varies.
Here's how it usually goes:

1-19: QB's, K or P
20-49: RB's, FB's, or DB's
50's: Mostly LB's but sometimes OL's and DL's
60's and 70's: Linemen (offense or defense)
80's: WR's or TE's
90's: DL's and sometimes LB's

Hope this helps!

The reason for different sets of numbers for different positions is this-
So officials and spectators can follow the game more easily. We get a better idea of whats's happening out there in the middle of a play when we can determine a players' position by his jersey number.

for position

Yes. See what Hax wrote. There are however strict rules here. Reggie Bush wanted to wear 5 but he wasn't allowed because he is a RB...

This is how it goes in the NFL:

QB/K/P are 1-19.
RB are 20-49.
WR are 10-19 and 80-89.
TE are 80-99
OL are 50-79.
DB are 20-49.
LB are 50-59 and 90-99.
DL are 60-79 and 90-99.


In the college game and semi-pro leagues (Arena football, etc.), there's no restrictions except on offensive linemen, who must wear numbers between 50-79 to show they're ineligible to receive a forward pass.

Only in football are assigned numbers generally related to their positions. In baseball and basketball, it's pretty much anything goes...

Yes only in football though in baseball you can wear any number and play any position. In football your position dictates how large and what number you wear. It's to let the ref's & line judge know who is an eligible receiver without always stating it at the beginning of the play.

yeah i am going to have to go with hax and dani'ye on this one.

yes, it tells were a player can line up on the field and play